— veniality, venialness , n. — venially , adv.
/vee"nee euhl, veen"yeuhl/ , adj.
1. able to be forgiven or pardoned; not seriously wrong, as a sin (opposed to mortal ).
2. excusable; trifling; minor: a venial error; a venial offense.
[ 1250-1300; ME venialis, equiv. to L veni ( a ) grace, favor, indulgence (akin to venus; see VENERATE, VENUS) + -alis -AL 1 ]
Syn. 2. slight, pardonable, forgivable.